Tuesday, 19 August 2014

'It’s OK For A Man To Hide And Watch The Woman Bath' - Egyptian Cleric

A hardline Islamic preacher from Egypt this week made
waves in the Middle East after he issued a religious edict allowing a man to watch
a woman 'while she is showering'.

But there is a catch, which is that such voyeurism is
only acceptable 'as long as your intentions are pure'. Salafist preacher Usama al-Qawsi made the controversial
fatwa in a recent sermon.

His opinion, based on his own, apparently rather special,
interpretation of Islam, is that men can 'hide' somewhere 'in secret' in order
to see parts of your intended bride 'she wouldn't usually let you see'.

The edict appears to run counter to traditional Muslim
teachings, which encourage both men and women dress modestly and 'lower their
gaze' when faced with members of the opposite sex. Mr Qawsi's sermon was broadcast on Egyptian-based Mehwar
TV Channel, and they have been translated into English by al-Arabiya.

He said: 'If you were really honest and wanted to marry that woman, and you
were able to hide and watch her in secret, see the things that she wouldn’t
usually let you see before marrying her, then it is acceptable as long as your
intentions are pure.

'One of the Prophet’s companions did that. Some
disapproved and told him: "How do you do that when you’re one of the
Prophet’s companions?"

The Prophet answered: "If you can see something that would make you want
to marry her then go ahead and do it."

Egypt's Minister of Religion, Mohammad Mukhtar, moved
quickly to reject the fatwa.

'Where is the glory and masculinity in watching a woman
shower?' he was quoted as saying by Al Bawaba, a Jordan-based English-language
news network.